POLICE are checking claims of a turf war between rival cockle gangs which resulted in a collision between two tractors that left more than 140 cockle pickers stranded four miles from shore.

A major rescue operation was launched on Saturday, with hovercraft, helicopters and lifeboats being scrambled to bring the two groups of cocklers to safety at Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.

The collision between two tractor units pulling trailers carrying rival Scottish and Chinese cocklers happened in the same bay where 21 Chinese cockle pickers died in February.

It took the rescuers more than three hours to get all the 144 cocklers safely back to shore, with the last one saved just minutes before the tide turned.

In July, police said they were investigating the possibility that a turf war had broken out between rival gangs.

Cumbria Police said its officers were investigating the latest incident and whether any offences had been committed.

Spokesman Mike Head said, "We are aware of the potential of the problem here. In the end, it all ended happily, but on a previous occasion it didn't."

The Health and Safety Executive also said it would also be investigating and would be talking to the gangmasters responsible for the groups of cocklers involved.

One local businesswoman said an "altercation" between the two groups had sparked the drama.

Janet Butler, who runs a shellfish business in Newbiggin where the rescue took place, said, "All I know is that there was some sort of altercation between the gangmasters who run the Chinese cockle gangs and the Scots.

"These people have come onto our cockle beds and all they are interested in is making as much money as possible.

"They have no respect for the local ecology or even the lives of the people who are working for them."